This is my 23rd post for #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. And today I will be taking you through some of the wardrobe strategies which can helps you to have a closet which is attractive, affordable, appropriate and authentic. When you open your closet and see it filled with clothes, yet feel you have nothing to wear, it’s likely the clothes don’t work for your life style, your personal style, or work together in ways that reflect you the way you want to be seen. The typical tendency is to go out and buy more”stuff”- to buy into the latest “must have” list. The opposite tendency is to stop buying anything, assuming that what you want is not available or cost too much. In either case, seize the moment and overcome the fear of fashion. Look at yourself and your clothes in the light of What all wardrobe strategies you need to adopt?
Rely on clothing as a resource, a tool that can control and use to help you meet your needs and achieve your goals.
A resource is anything available to use to your advantage, as an aid to meet a need or achieve a goal. Time, money, property, energy, food, and clothing qualify as resources.
As a resource, your clothing becomes a tool for meeting needs and achieving goals, takes you where you need to go. Virtually everyone can afford some clothing of value as a resource. Carefully selected, this resource can have positive effects on the wearer. Prepared with clothing as a resource, you/we feel more confident, capable, and credible.
Here I am with my 22nd post for #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Visual Communication is the key to manage positive image. As you all know Image Management is all about developing your inner strength and at the same time reflect them on the outside through appearance. While reflecting the inner strength outside one needs to create powerful first impression with stronger visual communication through appearance.
Verbal communication depends on words and sound. Nonverbal communication occurs through sight and touch. It is silent, visual communication, an immediate and important communication skill that plays a major role in everyday interaction. Call it what you like, your visual image, personal appearance or self presentation communicates to one and all within view, as well as to yourself. You cannot NOT communicate! Your clothes make a statement without saying a word. Your clothes speaks before you do.
This is my 21st Post for #Blogchatter A2Z challenge and as promised today I will be sharing tips to accessorize according to your face shape. Please checkout my previous post on Face Shape Evaluation , to know your face shape. One thing I would like to share before I begin with the tips, there are many faces which are of a combination, making typical shape name impossible. Identify whether the face is rounder, straight, longer, shorter, wider or narrower than ideal.
Once you have determined your face shape, you can start to determine what looks best on you. From glasses and earrings to hair and makeup, these are the ideals to help you look your best!
There are general rules that apply to any face shape that can be extremely helpful:
This is my 20th post for #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Today I am sharing with you different Types of Face Shapes. All those who are reading my post do analyze your face shape by reading my guidelines. Once you are done..stay tuned to my next post where I will be giving you tips on right kind of accessories, neckline, eye wear and haircut for all types of face shapes to look appropriate and attractive.
There are some things about your body that you should know for example: your blood type, things you are allergic to, and your face shape, to name a few. The last one may seem like no big deal, but knowing if your face is oval, square, or round can help you get a more flattering haircut, look more natural when you get fillers, find perfectly fitting glasses, accessories that suits you and makes you look more attractive and neckline in your clothing which looks more appropriate.
This is my 19th post for #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. And I am really excited to share with you all, “The International Style Scale” which was introduced by Judith Rasband . It shows the art and science of dress with style and integrity. This style scale helps to know that there are differing degrees on a continuum or scale between dressing up and dressing down, between formal and casual dress in work place.
We need to become aware of the factors or variables that account for difference in dress and the statement or message that clothes communicate to you and to others. These factors are the elements of design, lines, shape, colors, texture and patterns.
It is a fact of life. We have expectations about people’s clothing and appearance for specific times and occasions based on what is socially and culturally acceptable for the time and place, or upon experience alone. For example, you would interpret a man dressed in tuxedo seen on the occasion of wedding differently than if your see the man wearing a tuxedo on the occasion of an informal backyard barbeque, and still differently if you saw him in a tuxedo and mask on the occasion of Halloween party.
Value conflicts between people, such as parents and child or employer and employee can occur because the individual disagree on their expectation of appropriate dress. The workplace is known for attention to professional appearance. Not all people want to comply, and yet by dressing to meet the expectations of those you work for and with, you can create a more positive first and lasting impression about yourself and your abilities. You can establish or maintain your credibility and exert a more significant influence.
Now here I am with my 18th post for #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Today I will give you tips to get that perfect fit that you are looking for in dressing.
Where there is a will there is an “Attitude”!
Learn to accept yourself as you are, never let your weight get in your way.
Learn to dress the body you are living in now – today.
Learn that you don’t have figure flaws nor figure faults. You have figure variations, variations from that so called ideal that doesn’t really exist.
Learn to sit, stand and walk tall
Learn that it’s not just to look slimmer, but to look well proportioned and balanced.
Learn that it’s a matter of emphasis, how to counter and camouflage.
Learn that it’s not just the clothing style lines and shapes but fabric, and patterns as they interact to influence your goals.
Learn that it is not just the piece of clothing you choose, but how you put them together.
It is not what you wear, it’s how you wear it-it’s all in the wearing!
This is my 17th post for #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Here I am talking about qualities you need to look for while doing clothing selection. Here I will be discussing about for A’s of clothing:
Authentic
Appropriate
Attractive
Affordable
The effect of your clothing and appearance is something you can analyze or evaluate and generally control or manage, in much the same way you manage your other resources – times, money, meals and so forth.
No one expects you to be handsome or beautiful. What people do expect is for you to appear attractive and appropriate. While there is no one and only right way to look, attractive and appropriate, are words to keep in mind when selecting your clothes. When dressed attractively and appropriately, we need to feel more confident, at ease and act appropriately. When not dressed attractively or appropriately, poor actions tend to follow suit. Rather than dressing by habit, impose, imitation ,pressure,or trial and error, dress as a result of thoughtful decision and choices.
Think in terms of dressing appropriately for:
The occasion, situation, or activity and in relation to propose and goals.
The person, the people or the group you will be, or wish to be involved with, their mood, values, attitude, and interests.
You as an individual, for your physical body, your personality, mood, values, attitudes, and interests.
Time and attention to the message you create with your clothing and appearance are important in three general situation:
When the other person does not know you.
When the other person’s opinion or reaction to you is important to the achievement of your goals., any you want org need to influence the opinion or action of another person.
When your mood or confidence level needs a lift to boost self confidence.
A few such occasions include the first day of class, a blind date, a job Interview, an appearance in court or the day you have to present a report, make a sale, or participate on a committee. Occasions that demand a more authoritative appearance include job interviews and personal appraisald, first meeting with the client and so on.
Clothing and image management is one of the fastest and most effective ways to build self-esteem, to boost self-confidence, to reflect ability, and to increase credibility. Image management is an effective way to attract others, to encourage them to regard you favorably and with continued interest. If you want to be successful you have got to look successful in all your roles.
Personal and Professional Dress Standards
The 4 A’s – Giver yourself A Perfect 4.0
Occasionally , casual clothes are exactly right. Imagine, however, wearing only T-shirts and jeans all the time – at any age. You immediately limit the range of feelings that a variety of clothes can stimulate, reflect or project. Putting forth no thought or effort in dress, you gradually lose the ability to coordinate or create attractive and versatile outfits. Looking and feeling only comfortable and very casual, you gradually become psychologically uncomfortable with people in situations where dressier clothes are the tradition. Feeling uncomfortable you gradually limit your association with those people. Wearing extremely casual clothing everyday, you never look special. You never feel special. All occasions are the same. You are always the same. Facets of your personality and potential are not discovered and not developed. Experience supports the finding that when people stop dressing for different occasion they stop doing, going and being. Consider, that when you give some thought and effort to dressing in a variety of ways for a variety of mood and occasion, you become more creative, individual, confident and competent. Positive interaction and productivity increase. You are more likely to become self-actualized and to accomplish your goals.
This is my sweet 16th post for #BlogchatterA2Zchallenge and here I am with one of the most important and critical aspect in Elements of design. And it is all about Principles one needs to follow or know about various elements of clothing designs. Design principles are a way to give structure to design work and meaning to the piece.
Balance
An asymmetrical figure can appear more nearly symmetrical and well balanced when wearing clothing with asymmetrical lines or shapes, or be wearing the clothing in an asymmetrical way. The asymmetry of the body becomes less noticeable as more attention goes to the clothing where in clothing becomes dominant and body becomes subordinate. Men’s shoe jackets and sportcoats are designed with hip pockets on both sides of the jacket and a chest pocket on the left side of the garment to create asymmetrical balance. A boldly patterned skirt can balance the appearance of a larger bust area, while a patterned scarf or skirt yoke can work to balance larger hips and legs. Larger areas of color can become tiresome and larger areas of bright color can even become bothersome. The law of areas is a time tested guidelines that states larger areas of color are more pleasing if balanced in combination with proportionally small areas of another color.
Proportion and Scale
To appear balanced, the size of clothing and accessory shapes needs to be in proportion and scale with the body size and shape or form, including the bone structure. Compare the size of the body and the size of clothing and accessories, their overall size and the size of each detail. For example, the smaller the body and bone, the smaller and fewer the design details must be. If proportionally too large, they appear to overwhelm a smaller body. Size, however is relative. What appears large on a small scale body may appear small on a large scale body. Select fabric textures that are proportionally in scale with your figure. Thick, bulky, heavy fabrics on a small figure will over power the person because of the exam contrast in size and weight. Mission is the guide word.
Rhythm and Emphasis
Interior shapes can repeat and reinforce or contrast and counter the outline of the garment or the body. Your choice to reinforce or counter the body depends on your judgement about your body and on your fashion goals. Interior shapes can influence the appearance of height, width and weight, depending on placement, size and line direction. Angular shapes repeat and emphasize the animosity of the body. They counter the roundness of the figure. Curved shapes repeat and emphasize rounded body curves. They counter of soften the angularity of a figure. Interior foreground shapes call attention to themselves and to the specific area they are placed. They can also draw or divert attention away from a specific body area. Use them only in place where you want to draw attention and therefore emphasize. Texture can be used to draw attention away from a particular figure variation and towards a more flattering area of emphasis. Structural and decorative lines that are well placed lead the eye throughout the garment in a smooth, continuous, rhythmic movement. They do not compete with one another for attention.
Harmony and Unity
Related areas, shapes or forms should be consistent. Interior structural and decorative lines on the top of a garment should line up with those on the bottom. When they don’t, vertical eye movement is interrupted and attention goes to the horizontal jog, emphasizing width. To know more about harmony you can see here.
The principles of design are the rules a designer must follow to create an effective and attractive composition and buyers should consider these principles while buying, to look more attractive and presentable.
Here I am with my 15th post for #BlogChatterA2Z challenge. An illusion is a false perception or interpretation of something we see-through something that describes our eye when we look at it. An illusion makes something look quite different than it really is. Regardless of the facts, and according to our mind’s eye, we tend to believe the illusions.
Let’s talk about Optical illusions in elements of design-
Fabric and Texture
Fabric and texture can be manipulated, steamed and layered to create illusions. A general goal is using clothing as a resource is, you select and arrange fabrics and textures in ways that enhance the body, in ways that makes the figure appear more nearly ideal. Fabrics can be used in ways that emphasize the most attractive lines and shapes of the body, and camouflage or counter those body lines and shapes you consider less attractive, in effect minimizing or eliminating them. Thick, bully, fuzzy or fluffy fabric can be expected to add visual weight to the body.
For example firm fabric tends to hold or support a garment’s shape, allowing the garment shape to be dominant, while a thin, soft, drapable fabric can fall closely around the body, now allowing the body form to become dominant. Differences in fabric texture cause garments of the same style look quite different when made up in deferring fabrics.
Shapes
A general goal is using clothing as a resource is you select and arrange design shapes in ways that enhance the body, in ways that makes the figure appear more nearly ideal. Clothing lines and shapes can be used in ways that emphasize the most attractive lines and shapes of the body and camouflage or counter those body lines and shapes considered less attractive, in effect minimizing or eliminating them. You can modify or alter the illusory effects of shape with your use of the interrelated elements of design: line, color, texture and pattern. This requires you to plan and evaluate the effects of each element in the total design.
For example bigger floral shapes on any garment makes you look broader and bulkier while small shape floral patterns can reduce visual size and weight of your body.
Line
Line can be created, arranged and controlled to create illusions. Be aware, however not everyone perceives optical illusions in the same way or to the same degree and some not at all. Depending on eyesight, cultural background, personal experience, attitude and imagination, perception will vary. A general goal in using clothing as a resource is to select and arrange design lines in ways that enhances the body, in ways that make the face and figure appear more nearly ideal. Use clothing lines in ways that lead the eye or direct attention where you want it, that emphasize the most attractive lines of the body and camouflage or counter those lines we consider less attractive. Optical illusion are easier to control if you learn some of the illusions that relate directly to clothing. It is reassuring to know that specific type and directions of lines can be relied on to create specific effects or illusions. When you know what illusion you want to create, you will know better how to do it.
For example. To add visual weight and widen a thin upper torso, choose a rugby shirt with its wide horizontal stripes, or to visually lengthen and slim a thick midsection, choose a long vertical, center front zipper closure, or to visually slim a full rounded body, don’t dress it in full rounded clothes, counter the roundness with straight design lines.
Pattern
A fabric weave or surface texture often gives the appearance of a pattern or vice versa, the fabric pattern creates a definite visual texture. In all cases, either the pattern, the surface texture or the light reflection factor must be dominant.
For Example, corduroy creates textural stripes. Gabardine forms a diagonal twill, so does denim. A vertical cable knit creates stripes in a sweater. A jacquard weave can introduce beautiful textured flowers on cotton, linen or silk.
Color
Color is very good at creating illusions. Regardless of the facts, and according to our mind’s eye, we tend to believe the illusion that color creates. By recognizing the illusions that color create, you can select and arrange to create the illusions you want, they can be used to reinforce attractive personal coloring or undesirable effects of colors. Colors are seldom seen alone. They appear to change as they are seen in combination with other colors.
Warm colors can make cool colors appear cooler. Cool colors can make warm colors appear warmer. For example blue-green eyes may appear more green when blue clothing or eye shadow is worn. Light colors can make medium to dark colors appear darker. Dark colors can make medium to light colors appear lighter.For example, facial skin will appear lighter next to dark colored clothing. Bright colors can make medium to dull colours appear duller. Dull ,muted colors can make medium to bright colours appear brighter. For example, medium blue eyes will appear brighter when a slightly duller blue sweater or eye shadow is worn and vice versa.
The size of a colored area has marked influence on the way the color will be perceived. The larger the colored area, the more consistent the color will appear. The smaller the area , the more easily it appears to change.
Hope this information can help you create the right illusion you want to create.
Here is my 14th post for #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. This is something which every Image Consultant has to do before he/she recommend anything to his/her client. And that is “Need Analysis of client’s Personal style and Lifestyle”.
Long before you begin planning a cluster, go shopping, or evaluate your wardrobe, you need to identify the factors contributing to your own lifestyle and personal style. We have more clothing options today than ever before. The time is right to choose what works for you, for the way you live and the way you need or want to look and be seen. To guide you in your choices, examine your lifestyle and personal style.
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